The potential habitat for bird migration in the coastline area of Banda Aceh City

Abstract

The coastline of Banda Aceh is one of the locations where land, water and air elements meet. This meeting point functions as buffer zones for migrating birds as a place to find food, rest, and other activities. The aim of this study is to determine the type of migratory bird stopover habitat in the coastal area of Banda Aceh. This study is a descriptive qualitative research with a direct observation. The results of this study indicate that there are four types of migratory bird stopover habitats in the coastline of Banda Aceh which is rich in natural resources and plant vegetation to be used as a stopover for migratory birds, namely beaches, mangrove forests, ponds, and swamps with locations in Gampong Pande, Kuta Raja Subdistrict, Lampulo Village, in Kuta Alam Subdistrict, and Alue Naga Village, Syiah Kuala Subdistrict. This study revealed that these locations are rich in natural resources and plant vegetation, such as Rhizophora apiculata (oil mangrove), Rhizophora mucronata (loop-root mangrove), Avicennia marina (grey maggrove), Avicennia alba (Api-Api Putih), Casuarina equisetifolia (Coastal She-oak), and Leucaena leucocephala (river tamarind). These locations are ideal for migratory birds as they can be used as a stopover place to find food, rest, and breed.